After playing six matches, and 21 sets, within a 48-hour span, the physical toll was too much for Pojoaque Valley volleyball to overcome, and they fell in the state semifinals to top-seeded Goddard in four sets: 25-21, 18-25, 25-15, 25-20.
The Rockets had lost just three sets against 4A teams all season entering the match.
The Elkettes had their best success in the service game, where all six rotation players had at least one ace, and the team had nine total.
Joslyn Nunez had 28 assists in four sets, a slightly lower total as the offense was often stifled by Goddard’s big blockers and defense. Anica Urioste led the team with 11 kills, and Sonya Quintana had five blocks, four she shared with Tessa Martinez.
Goddard scored the first three points of the match, but Pojoaque struck for five straight to take a 9-8 lead early. But Goddard answered with a few short runs, and stopped Pojoaque from any further service runs, taking the first set by four points.
The Elkettes responded with a huge effort in the second set, especially in the back row, and they capitalized when the Rockets missed their first two serves. They went up 8-5 early, and held on to the lead consistently, stretching it to 24-15, though Goddard fended off three set points before Pojoaque finished the set to tie the match.
Goddard scored first in the third set, and went up 6-1 as Pojoaque suddenly started to feel the weight of their long weekend. Five straight points later made it 14-5, and Pojoaque had no answer, with the Rockets winning the set by 10.
Pojoaque took a 9-6 lead early in the fourth set, looking to force a decisive fifth, but encountered a 9-2 run when Goddard got hot, and though they fought late, they went down 25-20.